GearExpert

Find your Holdover Faster with a Burris Eliminator Laserscope!

Oct 22 • News • 9926

There’s a lot of gear you need on a hunt, from your rifle and scope to binoculars and rangefinders. All this gear can get heavy and cumbersome, plus it’s not always easy to transition from one piece of gear to the next. Some scope manufacturers try to solve this problem by combining a rangefinder with a binocular. This often cuts down on weight and helps you maintain the same level of performance you’d have if you were using a rangefinder and binocular separately, but this isn’t necessarily the most efficient combination. Consider: you use a rangefinder to, of course, find your distance from a target so that you can accurately compensate for the amount your bullet will drop due to gravity. While you use a binocular or spotting scope to help find game and can range it at that point, if the deer or other animal is on the move (even slowly grazing) you may have the wrong distance because of the time it takes to change from your range finder to your rifle. Why not have the rangefinder built in to your rifle instead?

The Burris Eliminator Laserscope

Burris thought of this, and they developed the Eliminator Laserscope. Once your scope is all sighted in, which is no more difficult than sighting in a regular scope, you simply turn on the scope (one button push), select yards or meters (another single press of a button) select if you’ve sighted in to 100 yards or 200 yards then select the drop number. Once this info is entered this info once, it’s saved (of course you can change it later if you want to, but many shooters set it once). Now you can find your target and the scope will tell you your range.

First find your target with the Eliminator Laserscope, next range it, then use the illuminated holdover dot to take the shot!

That’s a lot of help, but Burris figured a way to make this even easier. Once you have your distance, the Eliminator Laserscope will illuminate your holdover so that you don’t have to figure out if 220 yards is one line down, two or one and a half. Just put the illuminate dot exactly where you want the bullet to go. It’s that easy.

Burris knows a lot of hunters do a bit of guesswork when they’re out hunting. Guessing ranges. Guessing holdover. You might be pretty good at guessing, but when you’re always on target you’ll hit more shots and have far more successful hunts in the process. And you don’t have to carry a bunch of extra equipment to do it!

Burris Rifle Scopes are trusted around the world for their quality and innovation. The Burris Eliminator Laserscope is a perfect example of the innovative spirit that Burris uses when approaching all of their fantastic optics. If you want one of these rangefinder rifle scopes, head over to our product page right now because if you buy one by the end of the year you’ll be able to save $100 through a mail-in rebate! You can find the rebate form on the product page!

OpticsPlanet • 4 Comments on Find your Holdover Faster with a Burris Eliminator Laserscope!
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Hunt Away with Weaver Grand Slam Binoculars & Rifle Scopes

Oct 15 • News • 4630

I wrote recently about our current Win a Dream Hunt for Two Sweepstakes from Weaver. The winner receives an amazing hunting trip to Texas and a Weaver Hunting Package with a ton of great gear to make your hunt a success. That sweepstakes inspired me to tell you a bit more about Weaver’s Grand Slam Optics. One of the main pieces of gear from the Hunting Package is the Weaver Grand Slam 10×50 Binocular, and that’s a seriously great hunting bino. But it’s not the only optic that Weaver makes that’ll help you hunt.

Weaver’s Grand Slam line has a ton of great features, and a fair number of options to help you find and take down game. Of course, the first thing you have to do when hitting the hunting trails is find game. In general you’ll use either a binocular or spotting scope for this purpose. Which optic style depends on your game and setup. If you’re camping out in a hunting blind you can set up a spotting scope and tripod, but if you’re on the move a binocular is the way to go. Weaver’s Grand Slam 10×50 Binocular was specifically designed to help you on your hunts, so you’ll have the features you need.

Weaver Grand Slam Binoculars

What features? First, they have a rubber armor covering. That’s hugely important for hunters. You’re stomping through the woods, climbing over downed trees, cutting or pushing your way through thick brush and want to focus on finding game, not protecting your gear. The rubber armor helps keep your binoculars safe even if you drop them or fall. They’re waterproof and fogproof, so even if the conditions are wet you’ll still get a great view. The 10x magnification is plenty for most hunting situations, and 50mm objective lenses gather a lot of light. You’ll see what you need to very well with Weaver Grand Slams.

Weaver Grand Slam 3-10×50 Dual-X Rifle Scope

Once you have your game in sight thanks to your Grand Slam Binoculars, you’re going to be taking a shot. Fortunately, Weaver also has Grand Slam Rifle Scopes! These are great all-around scopes. There are a number of different options, but a great choice for most hunting situations is the Grand Slam 3.5-10×50 Dual-X Rifle Scope. Just like the Grand Slam Binos above, this scope has a 50mm objective lens to give you a nice, bright view. The variable magnification helps with versatility, as at different ranges you’ll want different power. It’s easy to use, with low profile yet still easy to grip dials. Also like the binos, this rifle scope is quite tough, with one piece construction that’s waterproof, shockproof and fog proof. That’s a lot of features with Weaver’s well-known quality standards behind it.

Hunting should be fun and relaxing. You get to head out to the great outdoors and enjoy some of the best parts of this world. The last thing you want to do is worry about your gear. Weaver designed their Grand Slam Optics to be reliable and high performing without breaking the bank. Whether you win one in our Dream Hunt for Two Sweepstakes or buy your own you can count on the quality and performance you’ll get from a Weaver Binocular or Rifle Scope. Don’t settle for anything less.

OpticsPlanet • 4 Comments on Hunt Away with Weaver Grand Slam Binoculars & Rifle Scopes
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ACOG vs. Accupoint: Which Trijicon Rifle Scope is Right for You?

Oct 8 • News • 23494

Trijicon is one of the more popular brands of high tech weapon sights in the world. They have a ton of awesome scopes, each with a different set of intended purposes. While this is great, it also means you have to know what you want when buying a Trijicon Rifle Scope. Two of their best scope lines are the ACOG and Accupoint. These scopes share a lot of similarities, but they’re also distinct so think about your objective when selecting the Trijicon Scope for you.

The first difference you’ll notice between these two types of scopes is the magnification power. In general, Accupoint Rifle Scopes are higher-powered than ACOGs, and their magnification power is variable. If you look at the models available on OpticsPlanet, you’ll see the lowest power setting can be anywhere from 1x to 5x, while at highest magnification you get from 4x to 20x, dependent on which scope you choose. The 1-4×24 Accupoint Rifle Scope is the closest to being an ACOG, but the others are very different and give you a different set of options in the field. At 20x magnification you can hit a target from a whole heck of a lot further away than with a 4x magnification, so whether you’re on the battlefield or out hunting and need to take a shot from 200 yards, you’re going to have a much easier time consistently hitting your target with an Accupoint Scope.

The Trijicon ACOG also has easy to use Flip Covers that Open and Close easily

But there’s a reason ACOGs are lower power. Red Dot Sights are very popular today (in fact, there are some terrific Trijicon Red Dots) because of their fast target acquisition and ease of use. ACOGs are very similar but still provide a degree of magnification so you’re more accurate in the field. The ACOG is very much so a tactical rifle scope (in fact, ACOG stands for Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight). When a soldier is clearing a building they need to be able to keep both eyes open so they don’t lose any of their peripheral vision. This greatly improves their effectiveness in the field. While the ACOG isn’t really a long-distance scope, it gives you enough magnification to hit targets from a good distance while still being effective at closer ranges. These scopes are also generally fixed-power, so there’s less to adjust when you’re in the field. An ACOG is ready to go for any close to medium range shot at a moment’s notice. If you’re using an Accupoint with the power set to 20x and something pops up 15 yards away, you’ll have a hard time taking a good shot because you’ll be too zoomed in. Those seconds turning down the power could make a huge difference. With an ACOG this is never a problem.

So what are you doing? Are you in tight spaces with lots of hiding spots that someone could pop out of, or in a wide open field with deer off in the distance? In tight spaces make sure you have an ACOG. In an open area use an Accupoint.

The nice thing about these two scope types is that they share a lot of great features that make both exceptional for many situations. First, both employ a combination of fiber optics and tritium-phosphor to illuminate the reticle. There’s no battery to fail you at an inopportune time. That’s huge and makes these very well-trusted in combat situations. The illumination is also optimal for the conditions, so in bright daylight it’ll light up a lot more than in the dark. If you have too bright a reticle in the dark you won’t be able to see past it to find your target. The reticle needs to be very dim in the dark so as to not obscure your vision. Fiber optics collect ambient light so they’re always at the optimal brightness, and in the event that there’s no light available the tritium-phosphor lamp will provide plenty of light for years.

Both scope styles are also very tough, though I’d give the edge in toughness to the ACOG. Those are some seriously durable scopes, as they’re internally adjustable and have fewer moving parts than other scopes. The less parts that move; the less chance something breaks down. Accupoint Scopes are still tough, but in my opinion they don’t quite compete with ACOGs.

Take some time to consider your needs before buying a rifle scope. There are a lot of factors to consider, but having an illuminated reticle, toughness and the proper magnification will help you hit your target quickly and consistently.

ACOG vs Accupoint

So Accupoint or ACOG? That’s up to you.

OpticsPlanet • 4 Comments on ACOG vs. Accupoint: Which Trijicon Rifle Scope is Right for You?
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Use the Firefield Nightfall Night Vision at Home or Out Hunting to See Past the Shadows!

Oct 4 • News • 5290

Allow me to relate a recent experience where I wish I had a night vision monocular close at hand. I was home alone. Well, not completely alone, but as you can see from the picture below, my pup Mickey wasn’t in a guard dog kind of mood. My other pup Samson was even more tired, as I’d walked them both 3 miles just before sunset. I don’t know why I decided watching a horror film was a good idea, but I decided to watch the classic film The Exorcist.

While alone. At night.

Mickey slept through the scariest part of the film!

Mickey did sit with me, or I should say on me, but he slept through most of the film. He wasn’t going to be much help. After the film ended I sat with him before putting him to bed. Mickey seemed entirely undisturbed by the film. I wasn’t so lucky.

Normally, I like horror films and am not bothered by them, but The Exorcist has always found a way to creep into my subconcious as I fall asleep. In those half-awake moments childish fears replace my good sense and logic. It was in this half-dozing state that I found myself wondering where the Ouija Board I had as a kid was. Perhaps, I thought, it was thrown out years before. My mom never much liked it, and I’m sure I hadn’t used it in years.

But there was a sound. Not a scratching. Not a clawing. A sliding. A shifting. I felt certain I could hear something moving in my room. It was low and subtle. Not a booming. Not a sudden, startling rush of noise. It was just barely there. I could hear it over the sound of my fan, and the more I heard it, the more I listened, the louder, or at least more distinct, it grew. I thought for certain it was the planchette (handheld piece) from a Ouija Board game spelling out horrific messages beneath my bed.

I opened my eyes and saw the green glow from my bedside alarm clock. The angle was such that I couldn’t make out the time, but the green glow reminded me of night vision. I found myself wishing I had a night vision monocular right then. There’s something comforting about the power of the device. You can see danger while it can’t see you. I suppose this wouldn’t matter in a supernatural Exorcist-type situation, but the advanced nature of the device helps calm fears.

The green light from my alarm did not illuminate very much and cast no shadows, but it did make the surrounding darkness that much more menacing.

Then the air flow in my room changed. This was distinct and followed a definite sliding sound. In the green light I could just barely see my curtains moving. There was no moon that night, but just enough light from the stars allowed me to see the folds in the curtain as they swayed.

I was afraid.

It was a childish fear, but I couldn’t help it once the fear settled in. The room was cool, which is how I like it, but I started to feel warm. As my mind raced I knew that I needed to get my mind off the film. I looked at the green light. I thought about how night vision works. Light intensification night vision, unlike thermal imagers, takes the ambient light in a room and amplifies it so you can see. In my bedroom, as the walls closed in, I knew there was more than enough light for any night vision device to give me a decent view. If the shades were pulled and the power went out there might be too little light for the night vision, so I’d need more for a clear view. I’d recently read about the Firefield Nightfall 4×50 Monocular, and I ran through what specs I could remember. It was easy to use, which I prefer, especially in the dark where it’s hard to make out lots of buttons.

The Nightfall also has a built-in infrared illuminator, so even if the room was completely dark I’d be able to see. That infrared light is invisible to the naked eye so you won’t be giving away your position. For my current situation, trapped under my blankets with imaginary monsters creeping back and forth around my bed like sharks around a life raft, the 4x magnification wouldn’t be terribly useful. The room isn’t large enough to need magnification, but if you’re outside hunting or doing some home security that 4x magnification is amazing. Night vision allows for identifying an object much better than thermal imagers, so if you see an animal that’s roughly the size of my dogs you’ll be able to see if it’s a fox, hog or dog.

I know the Firefield Nightfall is a monocular, meaning it only takes up one eye, so you’d be able to look through the monocular with one eye while maintaining your natural night vision with the other for more peripheral vision and an easier time walking around the woods at night.

I started opening and closing one eye and then the other to simulate this effect. I stared at the green alarm with my right eye while my left eye was closed, then look away and switch eyes. Pirates used to do this when out to sea. Many sailors would wear an eye patch when on duty at night. When outside they’d wear the patch on one eye, and if they stepped inside for a minute they’d switch eyes to preserve their natural night vision. This way, when they went back out they’d be able to spot boats or land much quicker and easier.

I kept running through these thoughts. I thought about what pirate name I’d chose (Brian isn’t as menacing a name as Captain Death Rattle), if I’d be more swashbuckling or a terror of the open seas, and how big my hat would be. Each of these lines of thought came back to The Exorcist.

I heard another sliding sound followed by a click. It seemed to me that as soon as I’d hear the sliding and start focusing intently on it the sound would stop. Like someone sneaking by you stopping if they think you’ve heard. I couldn’t understand the click. It sounded like a fingernail hitting a cheap wood table and scraping just a bit against the wood. Vivid details of how this could happen in a realistic way entered my mind. But so did unrealistic, frightening possibilities.

The airflow shifted ever so slightly as well. I felt a little air moving across my face, but none on the back of my head as it had been a moment before. Something was sweeping across the room. Every time there was a sliding sound the whole room seemed to shift.

I wondered at my cowardice as I lay beneath the blankets. I thought about how the Firefield Nightfall would be a great tool to have nearby. I tried to think if there was anything else about it that I was forgetting, and I realized its biggest selling point is value. The Nightfall is a very affordable night vision monocular. I have yet to make my millions so the low price of $159.99 would be a great way to get a night vision unit without going broke. I could use it when walking my dogs to spot skunks and coyotes, a the versatility of the device would help me check the yard for some light home security. I could peer out a window to check for intruders without them knowing I was watching.

For whatever reason thinking about money helped me think clearly. Maybe it’s because money is so cut-and-dry and no-nonsense. Maybe I simply got my mind off my fears long enough to recognize them for the silliness they are. Whatever the reason, I sat straight up and turned on the light.

I’d forgotten the recent changes to my room. The floor is wood, and I’d removed a rug in anticipation of an upcoming move. My fan has rubber stoppers on the base, but they don’t get very good traction on the wood floor. If the fan isn’t angled upward the spinning blades act as a propellor on a plane. Apparently the rubber stoppers are better on one side so when the fan moves it turns to the left. I could just barely hear the rubber sliding on the floor, and when the fan turned it recentered on the curtains, causing them to move more than before. The air flow changed as the fan’s direction did.

Rather than a little girl standing at the base of my bed with her head turning round and round my fan was sliding on the floor. No wonder the dogs didn’t bark at the imminent danger I’d been certain of only a few moments before. If only I’d had a Firefield Nightfall Night Vision Monocular to let me see how silly my fears were!

OpticsPlanet • 4 Comments on Use the Firefield Nightfall Night Vision at Home or Out Hunting to See Past the Shadows!
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Tactical Assault Gear Vests Add Protection & Carrying Options!

Oct 2 • News • 13363

Tactical Assault Gear knows what it takes to keep you safe. They make some of the toughest, most dependable gear in the world, and a big part of that is finding a good balance of what you need. Today, I’m going to take you through a few of the features found in T.A.G. Tactical Vests, and why these features help you when on duty or on the battlefield. While they have a number of superb options, I’ll focus on the TAG Banshee Rifle Plate Carrier.

The Tactical Assault Gear Banshee Plate Carrier

First, since this is a plate carrier, let’s talk about protection. The Banshee Plate Carrier can, of course, carry armor plates to defend you from ballistics and other projectiles. It can accept 10×12 inch ESAPI or similar Plates. ESAPI stands for Enhanced Small Arms Protective Insert, and they were first brought into usage by the US Army in 2005. These armor plates offer more support than SAPI plates and are a great way to boost your safety. That 10×12 inch plate is going to keep the chest of most people fairly well protected, so without question the primary reason anyone would choose the TAG Banshee is to keep themselves safe.

The TAG Banshee can accommodate a number of different attachments.

But that’s just one reason. T.A.G. does a fantastic job of giving you more than just an armor carrier. If you’re a law enforcement or military professional you will have to carry quite a bit of equipment. The Banshee, like many TAG Tactical Vests, also gives you the chance to carry extra gear. The PALS web attachments give you the opportunity to hook up all sorts of pouches and other gear on your vest. If you need to add mag pouches, flashlight pouches or a dump pouch to your loadout, the TAG Banshee gives you a perfect opportunity that’s both comfortable and easy to use.

The TAG Banshee Adjusts for comfort

Of course, with all that equipment you are definitely going to look at comfort. It may not seem like a big deal for the first couple minutes, but when you’re hauling a ton you need proper support. First, you need the vest to fit properly. The Banshee is fully adjustable so it’ll fit just the way you need. The shoulder straps are also well-padded and there are quick-release buckles and straps to help you get in and out of the Banshee at a moment’s notice. If you are injured in the line of duty, you’ll appreciate the medic being able to get the vest out of the way so you can receive medical treatment right away.

You can use a TAG Tactical Vest in a lot of ways because of all the customizable options, so whether you want to carry a hydration pack and feed the tube through the hose guides or hook up radio wires straight through the vest so they aren’t lose (in case of snags) you can do that. While the gear you carry is heavy, the vest is not, and this will help keep you performing at your best for a long period of time. Find a TAG Banshee Tactical Plate Carrier at OpticsPlanet today!

OpticsPlanet • 4 Comments on Tactical Assault Gear Vests Add Protection & Carrying Options!
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